Bio

Living in Chicago, Illinois

As a young boy growing up in a conservative small town in Indiana, my life was primarily centered on family, school, faith and church.  My father worked days as an underpaid accountant in the RV industry and my mother worked evenings on assembly lines and in factory warehouses.   There was little money to spare for nonessential purchases. 

I was the oldest of four children, which meant I needed to help take care of younger siblings and assume household chores after school.  In my free time, I practiced violin, ventured into the woods, and created paintings and sketches.  My creative outlets provided a retreat from the sometimes-demanding family responsibilities.  I often wandered alone through the woods and fields near our home in the country.  During these times of solitude, there was the freedom to linger and take notice of nature’s minute details.

Nothing was too small to be observed and studied, and the sounds, sights and smells excited my senses.  I turned over slippery algae-covered rocks lying in streams and creeks to uncover the abodes of underwater creatures.  I shuffled through the leaves on the forest floor looking for organisms and inanimate oddities, catching the wafting musky scents of freshly uncovered earth.  I cautiously inspected and identified the tracks of animals leading in and out of burrows.  The forest was a place where I was free to roam in what felt to me to be the ultimate sanctuary filled with the spirit of life. 

National Geographic publications were my first introduction to photography.  The photography often appeared artful and captivating.  I could almost set my feet afield in far-off places; intently engrossing myself in photographic images.

Due to financial circumstances, my education was focused on landing a career in the business world.  When I could spare a diversion, I studied art.  Art classes were always a part of my curriculum into the early years of college. 

Today, I am grateful to have the opportunity to engage in the art of photography.  After retiring from a career in the financial securities industry, I returned to my creative interests.  I have found no better way to slow down and focus on the details of our natural and manmade environments than through photography. 

At Chicago Photography Classes, I have taken 10 photography courses with more planned.  I have captured and edited thousands of images.  Joining the photography community has created opportunities to collaborate with others who are also avid photography enthusiasts. 

Enjoy my work.  Feedback and conversation are welcome.

Daryl Hartman

September 19, 2022